Today is the first annual Red Nose Day here in the United States, a day dedicated to raising funds to help children living in poverty in the US and around the world.
Red Nose Day was originally founded by a group of British comedians in 1985. This year's Red Nose Day in the UK was on March 13, 2015. In a single day, over £78 million was raised, bringing the cumulative three-decade fundraising total to over £1 billion for the first time.
According to RedNoseDay.org,
Money raised during the Red Nose Day campaign goes to the Red Nose Day Fund, which then distributes grants to charities that benefit children and young people in the US and some of the poorest communities in the world.
This year, the nonprofit organization Comic Relief wanted to help children living in poverty here in the United States by bringing Red Nose Day across the pond.
Cities and communities all over the country will be hosting fundraising events, culminating in a three-hour network television event hosted by comedians, actors, musicians, and other celebrities.
According to Comic Relief, Red Nose Day aims to benefit children in three key ways: keeping them safe by reducing violence, exploitation, and abuse; educating them by providing access to quality schools and job training; and keeping them healthy by through basic healthcare, clean water, and sanitation.
This year, the organizers of Red Nose Day have chosen to partner with twelve fantastic charities that help children at home and abroad. Half of the funds raised will stay right here in the US, while the other half "will be spent in some of the poorest communities in the world in Africa, Asia, and Latin America."
Here are the 12 nonprofit organizations that were chosen to be the beneficiaries of this year's inaugural Red Nose Day fundraising in the United States:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- charity:water
- Gavi
- LIFT
- National Council of La Raza
- National Urban League
- Oxfam America
- Save The Children
- The Children's Health Fund
- Feeding America
- The Global Fund
- United Way
To learn more about how you can help change the lives of children living in poverty at home and around the world, visit RedNoseDay.org or join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.
